Molecular diagnostic assay system

Abstract

Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening / closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection / excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 196,845 entitled “Molecular Diagnostic Assay System,” filed on Jul. 24, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This application is generally related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [Atty Docket No. 85430-1017353-011410US] entitled “Thermal Control Device and Methods of Use” filed concurrently herewith; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [Atty Docket No. 85430-0971600-0106010US] entitled “Encorderless Motor with Improved Granularity and Methods of Use” filed concurrently herewith; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 843,739 entitled “Honeycomb tube,” filed on Mar. 15, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 828,741 entitled “Remote Monitoring of Medical Devices,” filed on Mar. 14, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,048,386 entitled “Fluid Processing and Control,” filed Feb. 25, 2002; and U.S. Pat. No. 6...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a better diagnostic assay system by making improvements to various parts of the system such as the door drive assembly, syringe drive and valve drive, sonication horn, thermal and optical detection assembly and device management / communication system. These improvements can be used separately or in combination with each other to improve the performance of the diagnostic assay system.

Problems solved by technology

While air travel allows an ordinary person to travel around the globe from one continent to another within one day, it may also permit rapid spread of contagious pathogens and expose the global population to deadly diseases with potentially devastating consequences.

On the other hand, there remain many remote and under-developed areas in this world where health care is not readily available to local residents.

Inadequate accessibility to health care facilities such as hospitals and clinics, or even health product / service retailers (e.g., drug stores), seriously hinders any effort to achieve timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, especially those suffering from an infectious disease, making it difficult to properly assess the risk of an epidemic or to effectively contain an epidemic from rapid spreading.

Images